With two thirds of the expected 130,000 tonne of soil removed from site the Bendigo Hospital Project is on the cusp of longer phase of structural work.

The footprint of the hospital is also clearly evident from the excavation activity.

The foundations for the construction of the hospital structure can be seen across the site with first slab on ground poured. The slab will in time become the floor of the basement car park. Precast walls are being installed with first ones retaining walls and around the stairs to the car park.

The first of four tower cranes will be erected in mid-January and its base has been built. Adjacent to the crane base are the foundations for a lift well.

All of the 70 retaining piles have been installed around the site. The thirty foundation piles have been built and 70 of the 230 pad footings have been completed. Once the foundations have been completed the hospital structure will be constructed. A significant milestone in that process will be the first suspended (a floor of the building) slab formwork commencing in February.

Work is progressing on the hotel site with preparations for the installation of unitised building modules in January near completion.

Construction activity will cease on 20 December and commence on 13 January.

Construction is progressing rapidly on the $630 million Bendigo Hospital Project with its concrete foundations being poured today.

In a major milestone for the project, Minister for Health David Davis today joined workers to pour footings for the first concrete slab of the new state of-the-art hospital.

“These concrete footings are the foundations upon which the new hospital will rest,” Mr Davis said.

“Once complete, there will be 33,000 cubic metres of concrete within the hospital’s slabs, columns and footings. That is more than 13 Olympic size swimming pools.

“I’m proud to see construction of the new hospital is moving quickly and is on budget and on track to be completed in late 2016.”

Mr Davis said site preparation works are almost complete, including demolition, clearing and soil testing, ahead of major construction works.

“Excavation of the site between the Mercy and Arnold Street side has reached the base and more than 45,000 tonnes of soil has been removed over the entire area,” Mr Davis said.

“Preparation works on the building that will contain the childcare centre are underway and the culverts for a new storm water drain are being put in place.

“Meanwhile, detailed design work on the hospital’s layout and specifications by Exemplar Health, the Department of Health and Bendigo Health staff is still progressing, ensuring that this hospital will be at the cutting edge of modern healthcare.”

Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said the Victorian Coalition Government is delivering on its $630 million commitment to build a bigger and better hospital in Bendigo.

“This new world-class hospital is one of the largest regional healthcare projects in Australia and will deliver the highest quality healthcare to the people of Bendigo and the Loddon-Mallee region into the future,” Ms Lovell said.

“The new hospital will have 372 beds and 10 operating theatres, an integrated cancer centre and mental health unit and a helipad building on top of a new multi-storey car park.

Stage 2 of the Bendigo Hospital Project includes the construction of a 65 metre, 2 storey, air link bridge over Arnold Street. This will link the helipad and car park, which is currently under construction, with the new hospital building. more »